Vehicular battery charger, charging system, and method for transmitting battery charge threshold information

Abstract

A vehicle battery charger and a vehicle battery charging system are described and illustrated, and can include a controller enabling a user to enter a time of day at which the vehicle battery charger or system begins and/or ends charging of the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery charger can be separate from the vehicle, can be at least partially integrated into the vehicle, can include a transmitter and/or a receiver capable of communication with a controller that is remote from the vehicle and vehicle charger, and can be controlled by a user or another party (e.g., a power utility) to control battery charging based upon a time of day, cost of power, or other factors.

I claim: 
     
       1. A system for charging a battery of a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a battery charger having:
 an electrical power cord releasably attachable to at least one of the vehicle and a source of power; 
 a transmitter; 
 a controller electrically coupled to the electrical power cord and to the transmitter, the controller configured to:
 receive, via a user-manipulatable control, data indicative of a predetermined threshold level of charge by which the controller sends an alert, the predetermined threshold level of charge being less than a full charge of the battery, 
 compare, during charging of the battery with the battery charger, a level of charge of the battery to the predetermined threshold level of charge, and 
 responsive to the level of charge of the battery reaching the predetermined threshold level of charge of the battery, send, before the charging of the battery is complete, at least one signal as the alert via the transmitter, the at least one signal indicative of the predetermined threshold level of charge of the battery; and 
 
 
 a portable controller remote from the vehicle and battery charger, the portable controller configured to wirelessly communicate with the controller of the battery charger via the transmitter; 
 wherein the portable controller generates a notification to a user indicating the predetermined threshold level of charge of the battery following and as the result of receiving the at least one signal indicative of the predetermined threshold level of charge of the battery. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the notification is an indicator on a display viewable by the user. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the display is electrically coupled to the portable controller. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the notification is at least one of a group consisting of a text and an e-mail automatically generated to the user. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable controller is configured to send signals to the controller of the battery charger to start and stop charging of the battery. 
     
     
       6. A method of charging a battery of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 establishing wireless communication between a controller of the vehicular battery charger and a portable controller of a user remote from the vehicle and the vehicular battery charger; 
 receiving, via a user-manipulatable control, data indicative of a predetermined threshold level of charge by which the controller sends an alert, the predetermined threshold level of charge being less than a full charge of the battery; 
 supplying power to the battery of the vehicle via the vehicular battery charger; 
 comparing, during charging of the battery with the vehicular battery charger, a level of charge of the battery to the predetermined threshold level of charge; and 
 generating and wirelessly transmitting, during the charging of the battery and before the charging of the battery is complete, a signal to the portable controller responsive to detecting the level of charge of the battery reaching the predetermined level of charge of the battery. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the signal includes data indicative of the level of charge of the battery. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein wirelessly transmitting the signal comprises wirelessly transmitting the signal from the controller of the vehicular battery charger. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein alerting the user comprises alerting the user via at least one of a group consisting of an e-mail and a text. 
     
     
       10. A system for charging a battery of a vehicle and for wireless communication with a phone having a controller, the system comprising:
 a battery charger having:
 an electrical power cord releasably attachable to at least one of the vehicle and a source of power; 
 a transmitter; 
 a battery charger controller electrically coupled to the electrical power cord and to the transmitter, the battery charger controller configured to:
 wirelessly communicate with the controller of the phone by sending signals via the transmitter, 
 control supply of power to the battery in the course of a charging session as the level of charge of the battery is increased, 
 receive, via a user-manipulatable control, data indicative of a predetermined threshold level of charge by which the battery charger controller sends an alert, the predetermined threshold level of charge being less than a full charge of the battery; 
 compare, during charging of the battery with the vehicular battery charger, a level of charge of the battery to the predetermined threshold level of charge; and 
 responsive to detection of the level of charge of the battery reaching the predetermined threshold level of charge during the charging session and before charging of the battery is complete, send a signal indicative of the level of charge being reached via the transmitter to the controller of the phone as the alert. 
 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the signal indicative of the level of charge being reached is at least one of a group consisting of a text and an e-mail automatically generated to the user. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the battery charger controller is further responsive to signals from the phone to start and stop charging of the battery. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the battery charger is releasably attachable to the vehicle and the source of power, and is portable as a single unit. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the battery charger controller is further responsive to detection of interruption of power to the battery by sending another signal indicative of the interruption via the at least one of the group consisting of the transmitter and the receiver to the controller of the phone.